Table of contents

0. Functions7h 52m
1. Limits and Continuity2h 2m
2. Intro to Derivatives1h 33m
3. Techniques of Differentiation3h 18m
4. Applications of Derivatives2h 38m
5. Graphical Applications of Derivatives6h 2m
6. Derivatives of Inverse, Exponential, & Logarithmic Functions2h 37m
7. Antiderivatives & Indefinite Integrals1h 26m
8. Definite Integrals4h 44m
9. Graphical Applications of Integrals2h 27m
- Area Between Curves
  1h 18m
- Introduction to Volume & Disk Method
  1h 8m
10. Physics Applications of Integrals 3h 16m
- Kinematics
  1h 13m
- Work
  2h 3m
11. Integrals of Inverse, Exponential, & Logarithmic Functions2h 34m
12. Techniques of Integration7h 39m
13. Intro to Differential Equations2h 55m
14. Sequences & Series5h 36m
15. Power Series2h 19m
- Introduction to Power Series
  1h 9m
- Taylor Series & Taylor Polynomials
  1h 10m
16. Parametric Equations & Polar Coordinates7h 58m

4. Applications of Derivatives

Implicit Differentiation

Calculus

4. Applications of Derivatives

Implicit Differentiation

Previous problemNext problem

2:05 minutes

Problem 3.8.48a

Textbook Question

45–50. Tangent lines Carry out the following steps. <IMAGE>
a. Verify that the given point lies on the curve.
x⁴-x²y+y⁴=1; (−1, 1)

Verified step by step guidance

First, substitute the given point (-1, 1) into the equation of the curve x⁴ - x²y + y⁴ = 1 to verify if it satisfies the equation.

Calculate the left-hand side of the equation by substituting x = -1 and y = 1: (-1)⁴ - (-1)²(1) + (1)⁴.

Simplify the expression: 1 - 1 + 1.

Evaluate the simplified expression to check if it equals the right-hand side of the equation, which is 1.

If the left-hand side equals the right-hand side, then the point (-1, 1) lies on the curve. Otherwise, it does not.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above

Video duration:

Play a video:

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Implicit Differentiation

Implicit differentiation is a technique used to differentiate equations where the dependent and independent variables are not explicitly separated. In this case, the equation x⁴ - x²y + y⁴ = 1 involves both x and y, making it necessary to apply the chain rule when differentiating terms involving y. This method allows us to find the derivative dy/dx without solving for y explicitly.

Tangent Line

A tangent line to a curve at a given point is a straight line that touches the curve at that point and has the same slope as the curve at that point. The slope of the tangent line can be found using the derivative of the function at that point. For the curve defined by the equation, once we find dy/dx, we can evaluate it at the point (−1, 1) to determine the slope of the tangent line.

Point Verification

Verifying that a point lies on a curve involves substituting the coordinates of the point into the equation of the curve. If the left-hand side of the equation equals the right-hand side after substitution, the point is confirmed to be on the curve. In this case, substituting (−1, 1) into the equation x⁴ - x²y + y⁴ = 1 will confirm whether this point lies on the curve before proceeding with further calculations.